Crate for shipping wild game birds or poultry



mo Model.)

O. PAYNE. CRATE FOR SHIPPING WILD GAME BIRDS. 0R POULTRY.

No. 584,790. Patented June 22,1897.

WW ass as WASNtNGTON o c Units terns CHARLES PAYNE, OF WIOHITA, KANSAS.

CRATE FOR SHIPPING WILD GAME BIRDS OR POULTRY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,790, dated June 22, 1897'. Application filed December 28, 1896. $erial No. 617,141. (No model.)

To LtZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES PAYNE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at \Vichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates for Housing and Shipping Vild Game Birds or Poultry, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, and the figures of reference thereon, forming a part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a rear perspective of my improved housing and shipping crate for wild game birds and poultry. Fig. 2 is a front perspective of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a stack of said crates secured together by a frame to be used for housing purposes. Fig. 4 is a like view showing the manner of securing said crates together ready for shipping, together with a curtain for covering the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the housing-frame for securing several of said crates together. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional details of three different forms of making the feed-trough for said crate. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of said crate. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective of the top of one of said crates, showing the framework for holding the curtain, as shown in Fig. 4.

This invention relates to certain improvements in housing and shipping crates and frames for holding said crates together; and it consists of the general construction of said crate and frames, which will be more fully hereinafter described; and the object of my invention is to provide a suitable crate for housing and shipping birds.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a housing or shipping crate. 2 represents the corner-posts of said crate. 3 represents the ends of said corner-posts, extending above said crate. 4 represents the top of said crate, made of a textile material. 5 represents the bottom, made of a heavier textile than the top, or it may be made of any other suitable material. 6 represents a feed-trough on the outside and integral with the body of said crate. 7 represents a water-trough in said feed-trough, as shown in Fig. 2. 8 represents the bottom of said feed-trough, made square, as shown in Fig. 6. 9 represents the bottom of said trough,

round, or said trough may be made with a V-shaped bottom 10, as shown in Fig. 8. 11 represents an open space along the bottom on the rear of said crate for the purpose of cleaning. 12 represents a partition in said crate, making two compartments. 13 represents a frame for securing two or more of said crates together for housing purposes. 14 represents the base of said frame. 1-5 represents the corners of said'frame, adapted to receive said crate at the top when the top 16 of said frame can he slipped on, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. 17 represents strips securing two or more of said crates together, as shown in Fig. 4:, for shipping purposes. 18 represents an additional textile top secured to the top of said crates for protecting the inner top.

19 represents a drop-curtain reaching from the top of said crate to the opening 11. 20 and 21 represent a frame secured to the ends 3 of the posts 2, to which said top 18 is secured. The opening 11 in said crate is made for the purpose of making what I term a selfcleaner.

When there are birds in said crates and the bottoms become soiled and it is desirous to clean them, it can readily be done by tipping the forward end up,which will cause the birds to rush toward the upper end. When the birds are scratching they will loosen the filth from the bottom, causing it to run out of the opening 11; WVhen said crates are held together by said frame 13 or said strip 17, all of the crates can be cleaned at one time by tipping them, as described.

The ends 3 of the posts 2 are for the purpose of holding the crates separate one from the other, to allow an air-space between them; also, for holding the frames 20 and 2l,which is for securing the textile top 18. Said top 18 is for protecting the inner top 4 and making said air-space between said tops.

The curtains 19 are for the purpose of closing the open spaces in said crates while shipping, and one long continuous curtain may be used in the same way and for the same pur pose when the crates are used for housing or shipping. shown in Fig. 4, the lower end is secured to the slat above the opening 11 to allow the crates to be cleaned, yet preventing the birds from becoming frightened. The feed-trough When said curtain is used as is made outside of said crate, so it can be easily cleaned and replenished,and the watertrough is made outside for the same purpose and is placed in the center of said feed-trough, so that the water maybe reached by the birds on either side of the partition 12. The top 4 is made of a textile material, so the birds will not bruise their heads. In housing a large number of birds the crates are held in said frames, the bottom 14 of said frame 13 holding said crates off the floor, and the top 16 is for holding the top of said frame together. By holding several of said crates together, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, they are much more easily taken care of.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. 111 housing and shipping crates for wild game birds and poultry, the combination of a crate having corner-posts extending above said crate, partitions running from the front to the rear of said crate, making two or more compartments, a feed-trough made integral with, outside, and along the entire front end of said crate, and a water-trough located in said feed-trough and accessible to said compartments, an opening along the rear end and at the bottom of said crate, a top made of a textile material, and a supplementary top with a suitable frame for holding it secured to said corner-posts, and drop-curtains substantially as shown and described.

2. In housing and shipping crates for wild game birds and poultry, the combination of a crate having corner-posts located inside,and extending above said body-frame, partitions running from the front to the rear of said crate, the lower cross-piece at the rear end of said crate secured to said corner-posts, and located somewhat above the bottom of said crate, a feedtrough made integral with, outside and along the entire front end of said crate, the sides of said crate forming the ends of said feed-trough and the bottom of said crate forming the bottom of said feed-trough, a water-trough located inside the feed-trough and accessible to said compartments, and a top of said crate made of textile material.

CHARLES PAYNE.

Vitnesses:

R. O. BoAsEN, M. S. HINMAN. 

